📖 Biblical Definition
The practical making-amends for wrong done. Beyond confession and forgiveness, biblical repentance often requires the restoration of what was taken or damaged. The Mosaic trespass offering (Lev 6:1-7) is the OT pattern: if a man wrongs his neighbor by violence, theft, or deceit, he must restore in full PLUS one fifth (twenty percent over the principal) AND bring a guilt offering. Zacchaeus models the NT pattern in Luke 19:8: And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord; Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold. Christ's response — This day is salvation come to this house — ties the reparation to the genuineness of the conversion. The Christian who has injured another is not merely to apologize; he is to restore wherever restoration is possible. Modern Western Christianity has often softened repentance into private confession; the biblical pattern includes the costly public restitution that proves the repentance is real.
📜 Webster 1828 Definition
Practical making-amends for wrong done.
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The practical making-amends for harm done — restoring stolen property, paying restitution plus a fifth in the Mosaic trespass offering, and acting upon Christ's principle 'first be reconciled to thy brother.' Zacchaeus exemplifies it: 'if I have taken any thing... I restore him fourfold.'
📖 Key Scripture
Leviticus 6:5 — "He shall even restore it in the principal, and shall add the fifth part more thereto, and give it unto him to whom it appertaineth."
Luke 19:8 — "And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord; Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold."
Matthew 5:24 — "Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift."
⚠️ Modern Corruption
Forgotten under cheap-grace theology where forgiveness erases the obligation to make right.
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Cheap-grace theology drops reparation entirely — God forgives, the matter is closed, no further action required. Scripture maintains that forgiven sin can still owe restitution to the wronged neighbor. The corruption is using vertical forgiveness to nullify horizontal obligation.
🔗 Greek & Hebrew Roots
Latin reparare — to repair.
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['Latin', '—', 'reparare', 'to repair']
['Hebrew', 'H7999', 'shalam', 'to make whole']
Usage
"Make reparation; do not skip the cost."
"Forgiven sin still owes neighbor."